AN ARTIST who has revisited his first love of filmmaking is offering the chance for residents to write their own short movie.

In January of this year, John Donlon decided to give his old hobby another go after putting down his camera and working as a full-time artist.

John, from Newton, has set up his own studio working from home and started making short films. So far he has captured local events such as the Newton Beer Festival, produced documentaries of the lives of people around the area and has created a short horror flick.

And he is offering people the chance to try their hand at filmwriting by holding a competition in which people can pen a story for a short film to be in with a chance to have it made.

"I'm a full-time artist which is why I'm at home and filmmaking is just something I love doing," said John who has created Earlestown Film Studio.

"I started thinking about when you get older doing something you like is better than having a job working every hour.

"The main love is films and I used to do a lot when I was younger and then you change and put it on the back-burner," added John, who has launched Earlestown Film Studio.

"It has been wonderful filming events and there is that many you don't realise and someone said to me I can't believe nobody else has done this."

John says he has several projects in the pipeline to keep him busy through the year but is always keen for people to contact him and share their stories.

"I have a few things lined up and am making a documentary on two older gents I met who play the guitar and go round to old people's homes and day centres.

"People often don't think they have a story until they come to me, because everybody has a story to tell.

"With the horror film I was really pleased and that was with a local girl from Clock Face. It's non-paid but a nice experience.

"I've had some really good responses from the videos."

And John hopes the competition can encourage others to get creative and use their imaginations.

"It's top get people into and and if people enter it would be nice to see their story being made into a short film."

Entries must not exceed 500 words and must never have been published. Email stories to earlestownfilmstudio@gmail.com as a Word Document or TXT File. The deadline is July 20.

Full guidelines to the competition can be found at www.earlestownfilmstudio.com/competition.

John can be contacted by the email address. Follow @EarlestownFilms on Twitter or like the 'Earlestown Film Studio' Facebook page.